At the final round of the ALMS in Adelaide, Australia, In the land of "Crocodile Dundee," Audi drivers Allan McNish and Rinaldo Capello will defend their lead in the overall classification at the wheel of an Audi R8 sporting a crocodile design. "Australia is a country with a strong growth potential. Therefore it is an important market for Audi," explains Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich, Head of Audi Sport. "This unusual crocodile costume is a greeting to our Australian hosts."
The car is a real work of art. "The idea was born in the AUDI AG design center, under the leadership of Audi designer Frank Lamberty, who converted the exterior of the R8 into a crocodile in the middle of its natural habit.
Although Audi has already won the manufacturer and driver's titles in this year's ALMS before the season finale on Dec. 31, the Team Audi Sport North America is taking the Audi R8's first race on a city circuit very seriously. "Our aim is to win this race as well," declares team director Reinhold Joest. "It would be the crowning of a unique season."
Of the four Audi drivers, only Emanuele Pirro is familiar with the former Grand Prix circuit. The man from Rome describes the Adelaide track from his experience as a Formula One driver: "The circuit is really beautiful, but for the driver and the brakes, it's very taxing. There are many 90-degree corners which make traction and torque deciding factors. For this reason, Panoz should be strong there."
Allan McNish anticipates temperatures of over 86 degrees (Fahrenheit) in the shade. "I'm flying to Australia a little earlier so I can acclimatize myself to the Australian heat," explains the current leader of the American Le Mans Series. In contrast, Frank Biela prepares himself for the 1000 kilometer race in Adelaide in a totally different way: "I use a computer game to familiarize myself with a city circuit. In the past, this has helped me learn race tracks that I did not know."
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